Volume 6/Issue 3

Assembly to Focus on Fighting Poverty As Priority of Legislative Session

New Legislator Profile: Angela McKnight

Lt. Governor Guadagno Visits Raritan Center Business Park

Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, in her capacity as Acting Governor, visited the Arizona Beverages Distribution Facility in Raritan Center Business Park last week. Raritan Center Business Park is managed by Federal Business Centers, a client of River Crossing Strategy Group.

The purpose of the Acting Governor’s visit to the Woodridge facility was to demonstrate the Administration’s commitment to New Jersey’s manufacturers and distributors. Arizona Beverages received an $18.9 million Grow NJ Award to construct a new 559,915-square foot manufacturing facility adjacent to their current facility to support its expanding operations.

"This new project will create 100 new jobs, which demonstrates why our state's unemployment rate is down to 5.1% today,” said Acting Governor Guadagno. "Companies like Arizona Iced Tea are a great example of our state's diverse manufacturing and distribution sectors that are continuing to grow and succeed here."

The Arizona Beverage Distribution Facility, also known as Maplewood Beverage Packers, plans to invest $40 million in capital to support the construction of this new manufacturing facility, which will have a net benefit to the state of $109.8 million over the 15-year commitment period.

If your business is interested in moving to New Jersey, or is considering leaving, please do not hesitate to contact River Crossing Strategy Group as we can work with you to communicate and meet with State agencies that have programs designed to attract and assist companies looking to set up operations in the Garden State or retain those that are already here.

Assembly to Focus on Fighting Poverty as Priority of Legislative Session

Noting that 2.8 million adults and 800,000 children lived poverty in New Jersey 2014, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto announced that he has directed several Assembly committees to hold special hearings on fighting poverty in New Jersey.

The Speaker directed the following committees to meet this week to discuss various topics:

The Human Services Committee will focus on existing and needed services necessary to help residents overcome poverty.

The Housing and Community Development Committee will focus on the housing problems and needs of families living in poverty.

The Transportation Committee will focus on New Jersey's transportation network and how it could be used to help those in poverty and how it acts as a barrier for those in poverty.

The Women and Children Committee will focus on employment issues such as job training availability, pay equity and employment barriers, particularly for female heads of household and issues that impact children living in poverty.

The goal of the hearings is to identify to identify areas where legislation can address a problem.

“We must rebuild the middle-class and make New Jersey more affordable with common sense 21st century ideas and government reforms," Prieto said.

New Legislator Profile: Angela McKnight

Angela McKnight is the new Assemblywoman from the 31st Legislative District representing Bayonne and Jersey City. She is the running-mate of Assemblyman Nicholas Chiaravalloti, who was profiled in last week’s “In the Loop.”

The Assemblywoman is the founder and CEO of AngelaCARES, a nonprofit senior citizen service and advocacy organization located in Jersey City, that also provides mentoring programs to youth. She is also the owner and president of Care About You, LLC, which provides consultant services on aging in place for the elderly, care management plans, etc., and is the self-published author of the “Caregiver’s Guide to Helping Seniors Eat Healthy.”

The Assemblywoman serves on many civic and community-based organizations, including as a PTA member of the Golden Door Charter School in Jersey City. She resides in her hometown of Jersey City with her husband and two children.

The Assemblywoman’s will serve on the Assembly Education, Assembly Human Service and Assembly Health and Senior Services Committees.